Parents in Lovejoy Independent School District have learned that their children may have been exposed to the same teacher accused of sex crimes against one or more students in neighboring Allen Independent School District.
Teacher Anthony “Tony” Mattei, 59, was arrested Wednesday and charged with two counts of indecency with a child by sexual contact. The alleged crimes occurred last year, but parents in the district say this is the first they are hearing about the allegations.
Mattei was hired to teach at Curtis Middle School in August 2021 after working as a substitute since 2019.
Following the publicity surrounding Mattei’s arrest, Lovejoy ISD parents received an email Wednesday that Mattei had worked in their district from November 2018 through May 2021—prior to joining Allen ISD full-time and before his alleged sex crimes occurred—first as a substitute teacher on all campuses and then as an instructional aide at Lovejoy High School.
A separate email sent to parents of special education students at the high school advised them that Mattei worked there as a special education instructional aide from August 2019 until May 2021.
Lovejoy ISD is still reeling from a June scandal in which teacher Ray Cooper was allowed to resign after he was caught sending sexually suggestive messages to a male student.
Allen parents were astounded to learn their district had investigated Mattei earlier this year following allegations of sexual misconduct involving a student (incidents occurred in 2021 but were reported in April 2022), yet he was allowed to return to the classroom.
Several parents of Curtis students confirmed to Texas Scorecard they were never notified about the allegations until this week.
According to emails sent to parents by Allen ISD, Mattei is now on administrative leave and the district is retaining an “independent third-party investigator” to review their handling of the allegations.
Parents with any questions or concerns should contact their school district and/or local police.
